Looking for a Vanilla Soap Recipe

My wife and I have been making soap, with very good results, so far.
We made one batch using Pure Vanilla Extract( 4 OZ. for a 7.5 pound
batch of soap), from the grocery store, for our scent. I think the
fragance is good, my wife is not so sure. We would normally use an
essential oil, but the only supplier of Vanilla Essential Oil, I
found wants $145 for 4 OZ. , too high for my taste, thank you.
Is any one else making Vanilla soap and if so what are you using for
vanilla scent? Thanks for the help everyone.

Answers

If you have the time would you mind printing your soap recipe? I
have made olive oil soap in the past, it turned out well but was very
time consuming. Took forever to dry. I am surprised that the
vanilla smell didn't dissapate in the process. Thanks.

12 OZ. of LYE mixed to 2 LBS. of distilled water.
Melt 1 LB./ 8 OZ. of Coconut Oil #76 and 2 Lb. /6 OZ. of Palm
together.
Mix the Oil mix with 1 Lb./ 8 Oz. of Pomance Olive Oil.
When the three oil mix cools to 80 degrees AND the LYE has cooled
to 80 degrees, mix everything together.
Now stir the entire mix, until it starts to trace, about 20 minutes.
Then mix in 1 OZ. of color and 4 OZ. of scent. and pour into a large
mold.
Wrap the mold in a blanket for 24 hours to cool slow.
After 24 hours unwrap the blanket and let stand for another 12 hours.
Finally remove from the mold and cut into bars.
Let the bars sit for 6 weeks before using.

Sorry, cowgirlone, I don't really know. :o) Snowdrift says they can
be used for 100% cold processed soaps too but I'm guessing that
David's recipe above and your recipe is NOT cold processed (right??).
Maybe Snowdrift Farm could give you some suggestions. They have
excellent prices on essential oils but they don't list vanilla as one.

Ooh, I just remembered that the herb Sweet Woodruff is supposed to
have a vanilla scent to its dried leaves. I don't know if it is
compatible to soapmaking. I'll look in my herb books later and see
what I can find.

Great, David (I'm not an experienced soapmaker but I've been reading
some about it. Could ya tell?? :o) maybe the fragrance oil will work
for you. About Sweet Woodruff: Looks like you could use the dried
herb fine but I don't think you're going to end up with a real vanilla
scent. One book says vanilla-like and another says a scent like fresh
mowed hay. Still could be nice, though. Good luck!

Scenting CP soap with vanilla is problematic, as you've found, David.
Vanilla EO is far too expensive to use in soap, and the scent provided
by vanilla extract from the store changes in the processing, and is
not long lasting.

Most soapmakers I know resort to using Vanilla fragrance oils to solve
the problem, but that solution brings other problems with it. Most
vanilla FOs will turn CP soap a lovely chocolate brown (or various
shades thereof) and some consumers find the brown smear of soap on
their washcloth disconcerting, to say the least.

FO dealers like Sweetcakes have been
trying to find non-discoloring FOs for a while now, with varying
success. These scents tend to be elusive, and not always a clear
vanilla...so in the end you pays your money and takes your pick.

Most potpourri scents, including Fragrance Oils for candles work just
fine. Make sure you buy a SMALL amount of it before you jump in -
check the smell to see if you like it! I bought a Vanilla that has a
strong butter note. Super icky for soap in my estimation. I prefer
a strong Vanilla mixed with Sandalwood and Patchouli. Now, that's
livin'...

I'll give away a secret. Essence sells a vanilla that works great in
cp soaps. I use it all the time. It is not a fragrance oil, but an
essential oil, called Bourbon Vanilla. They do not recommend using
it in cp soaps, they say it doesn't work, but I know it does. I use
about 4 oz for a 6 pound batch. Their website is
www.essencesupply.com
Mary